8 | JANUARY 19 • 2023 

PURELY COMMENTARY

student’s corner
Never Again: American Jews and the IDF
M

y grandfather was a 
prisoner in Auschwitz 
for three and a half 
years. Six million Jews, including 
more than half of his family and 
countless friends, were mur-
dered by the Nazis 
in Germany just 
over 75 years ago. 
I grew up hearing 
about my grand-
father’s survival 
stories, bravery 
and persistence. 
Jews have always been globally 
persecuted and, too frequently, 
Jews are in imminent danger, 
solely due to their religion. 
Despite all our nation has been 
through, antisemitism and hate 
crimes against us are still at large, 
and it is our generation’s turn to 
take action. 
A substantial factor contribut-
ing to the establishment of Israel 
was the Holocaust. Additionally, 
if not for our ancestors’ tenacity 
and willpower to push through 
and survive Hitler’s regime, 
keeping faith toward a brighter, 
religiously independent Jewish 
future, Israel would not have 
survived and flourished. 
They reclaimed our homeland, 
finally giving the Jewish people 
an army and a safe haven. The 
Israel Defense Forces has risen to 
be one of the most powerful mil-
itaries in the world, thus keeping 
Jews around the world safe. 
Before the establishment of 
Israel, Jews were scattered all 
throughout Europe. They had 
no homeland to run to nor an 
army to defend them. All Hitler 
needed was to begin scapegoat-
ing them and to send his already 
hate-ridden army on its way to 
“make Germany great again.
” 
Today, the majority of 
American Jews feel safe living 
in America. However, a key ele-

ment resulting in the freedom 
we have to exercise our religion 
and live without fear is a result 
of the young men and women 
putting their lives on the line in 
Israel. Israelis are closest to dan-
ger; the surrounding countries 
want to wipe out the Jewish peo-
ple. Nonetheless, they continue 
to live and fight for the world-
wide freedom of Jews. 
It is not right that we Amer-
ican Jews enjoy the benefits of 
America while our own peo-
ple put their lives on the line 
in Israel. The only difference 
between us and Israeli Jews is 
that Americans, by chance, were 
born 6,000 miles away from 
Israel. Otherwise, we would be 
required to draft into the IDF. 
We are the same united people, 
just born in different places. 
Anything you can contribute 
to the IDF is helpful and, frankly, 
needed. Israeli Jews have served 
since the existence of Israel and 
it is now our turn, as American 
Jews, to step up. All a Lone 
Soldier — a soldier whose par-

ents reside in the diaspora — is 
required to serve is for one and 
a half years. It is a chance to be 
someone’s hero, a chance to take 
a stand to protect your people, 
your family. It is an opportunity 
to help keep our brothers and 
sisters in Israel safe. Just take a 
look at what Israelis deal with 
again and again and have to read 
on the news. “Senior Islamic 
Jihad official: We will bomb the 
center of Israel.
” “Three people 
killed in axe attack in Israel, 
extending wave of violence.
” 
These headlines are nothing new 
for the citizens of Israel. 
We are watching history 
repeat itself. During the past 
77 years, there has been a silent 
buildup of hate and tension. 
They say history does not, 
exactly, repeat itself, but it does 
rhyme. The hate is now making 
loud appearances in forms of 
dangerous, violent acts and state-
ments toward the Jewish people 
worldwide. Jews, please join me, 
and do your part in memory of 
those we have tragically lost and 

for our future. 
Regarding America, with 
the rise of antisemitism, join-
ing the IDF will, in the long 
run, help improve conditions 
for American Jews. The link 
between safety, Israel and the 
Jewish people is inextricable. 
Out of the steps we can take, the 
greatest action of contribution 
is to join the Israeli military 
service. No matter how big the 
job is, it is a necessary factor to 
secure a dependable, safe and 
thriving future for Israel and 
Jewish people worldwide. It 
doesn’t matter where you live; 
because we are Jewish, it is cru-
cial we each do our part. 
When the Yom Kippur war 
broke out, my cousin was on 
the first El-Al flight to Israel to 
go serve and help take part in 
whatever he could. I, too, will be 
enlisting in the Israeli Defense 
Forces when I turn 18. I encour-
age everyone to take part in the 
IDF, regardless of where you 
live or how religious you are. 
Everyone can contribute and 
everyone makes a significant 
difference. 
My grandfather maintained a 
brave attitude amongst death to 
the left and right of him in the 
camps and took part in keep-
ing the Jewish nation alive. It is 
now our turn to be brave and 
take action to ensure a safe and 
persisting future for the Jewish 
nation. Never again will we not 
have a homeland. Never again 
will we be helpless. Never again 
will we be pushed around. Never 
again will we be herded like 
sheep to gas chambers. Never 
again will we face extermination. 
Never again. 

David Berger, 16, is a junior at The Frisch 

School/ Yeshivat Frisch in Riverdale, New 

York. He is passionate about the IDF. 

David Berger

COURTESY OF THE IDF

